Cain explains AUTHORITY

[Cain]

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a Prince.

This Prince found that some of his subjects had been involved in very naughty activities, and had broken promises made to the Prince.  As such, the King punished them.

However, these naughty subjects, they were well connected to the priesthood.  And the priesthood kicked up a right stink about them being punished, and sought to overrule the Prince.

Even more so, the priesthood then offered bribes and pressure to an influential and powerful baron, to try and pressure the Prince into doing what they wanted.  The Prince could not stand up to both the Priesthood and this baron, and so eventually relented.

The rest of the Prince's subjects then saw the limits to the Prince's power clearly, and used the priesthood and rivalries within the court to press their own agenda and undermine the Prince's rule.  Eventually, the Prince was overthrown and beheaded.

===================

All of this is just an extreme overreaction to my being told that I cannot punish students for a certain set of infractions, when I was previously told I would be supported totally if complaints were put in against me.  I have now been made to reverse my previous course of action, despite making it clear to the students that I would not, and I have just spent the last half hour penning a humiliating "apology" letter for something I feel no need to apologize for, and that I was told I would be supported in, if I went ahead with it.

I am seriously pissed.  They've just given every student in the building a green light to do whatever the fuck they want, since their parents are never here and will give them permission to do pretty much anything, in 99% of cases.  I should have the final say.  Parents are morons, and more importantly, they don't live here.  They don't have to put up with the consequences.  They just pay enormous sums to strangers and expect them to clean up the mess, and then hamstring them when they actually try to do so.

So.  Fucking.  Angry.  I just had my authority totally underminned, and by the parents of students who see house staff as servants, not superiors.  Why bother having any fucking rules then?  Let the little fuckers run riot, and when they end up failing their exams, or having their visas rescinded by the UKBA, or they end up in hospital or a jail cell because they're rich, young and utterly incapable of self-control, we can just shrug our shoulders and say "not our problem".

Fucking morons.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Find another job.  Don't quit this one yet, at least not until you have something lined up, but find another job.  If they hang you out to dry once (and that's all it takes), they'll do it a thousand times. 

May I suggest that your next job not involve the general public at all, let alone that portion of the population that has enough money and/or influence to have any sort of impact on your life in any meaningful way?  And that doesn't necessarily mean working for the government, though that is the best place to explain your "position" to humanity in general.

Fuck that noise, Cain.  Get the hell out.

[Cain]

This is definitely pushing me towards the "caring less about my job" position right now.  While I haven't been completely neutered, and I definitely have enough authority and general methods to keep order, this does inject another pole of power into the system.  Before, it was clear.  There was me and the other house staff, then there was our boss, who answered to the principal.

But now, apparently, the parents get a say too.

Well fuck that noise, and any kid who tries to use that on me will be in a world of very personal trouble.

There are still benefits to this job which mean I'm not prepared to quit just yet.  However I'm definitely going to rely far less on the official discpline system after this fiasco.

This is the problem, authority needs to come from a single source.  Otherwise it's not authority, it's just an opinion, and no-one gives a fuck about opinions.

[Triple Zero]

So.  Fucking.  Angry.  I just had my authority totally underminned, and by the parents of students who see house staff as servants, not superiors.  Why bother having any fucking rules then?  Let the little fuckers run riot, and

when they end up failing their exams, or having their visas rescinded by the UKBA, or they end up in hospital or a jail cell because they're rich, young and utterly incapable of self-control, we can just shrug our shoulders and say "not our problem".

I'd be very careful making that assumption. Seeing how easily they backed out on the support they promised you, good chance that when the shit hits the fan, you can shrug your shoulders all you want, but they will probably make it your problem--or at least, they'll be looking for some easy target to shift the blame. Maybe if you can make sure someone else is the easier target you might be fine?

[Cain]

I'm not making that assumption, or acting upon it.  I'm pointing out this is the logical end point of where this is going.

But thanks for having so little faith in me.

[Jasper]

I find it an interesting question, whether or not authority can come from many places and remain undiminished.

It makes obvious intuitive sense that it can't be divided without loss, but that's what makes me question it.

[Bu🤠ns]

Cain,

Are you able to inject an additional power pole into the system that you could leverage when you get undermined like that?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

The fact that they told you directly that they would support you in a specific action, and then failed to back you up AND have asked you to write a letter of apology is absolutely loathsome.

[East Coast Hustle]

I'd say that, if nothing else, it's time for an upper-decker in someone's office.

[Jasper]

PS, wasn't ignoring the insult because I don't care, but because I was trying to turn a bad situation into an interesting discussion.  It really is an unforgivable breach of trust, and I hope something of a top-floor-of-a-boat nature happens to their toilet.

[Murmur]

The fact that they told you directly that they would support you in a specific action, and then failed to back you up AND have asked you to write a letter of apology is absolutely loathsome.

I'm going to second that emotion. Have they ASKED you for an apology letter, or DEMANDED one? I'm the kind of asshole who wouldn't even bother with that bs unless I was specifically approached and given no choice.

[Faust]

I've had this in retail when dealing with the public.

I refuse to serve some drunk who comes in, he kicks up a stink and the manager comes in, turns out he is someones cousin or somesuch and I get these belittling looks from the two of them as the drunk gets served.

It's a horrible feeling, and seeing as these are a bunch of spoiled brats I'd say the little shits probably have a lot more leverage than was previously anticipated.

[Triple Zero]

I'm not making that assumption, or acting upon it.  I'm pointing out this is the logical end point of where this is going.

But thanks for having so little faith in me.

Well. I was just trying to relate to your situation and show a bit of support. Didn't mean to imply you would do so. It's a crap situation and it sucks that you have to deal with it.

[BadBeast]

You have my sympathy. But sometimes, life's shit and we just have to suck it up.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

You have my sympathy. But sometimes, life's shit and we just have to suck it up.

It's always helpful to inform people of that when they're trying to vent a bit.

If you know what I mean.